ARMENPRESS: Armenia to host Concours Mondial de Bruxelles international wine competition

Armenia, a country with rich winemaking traditions, is set to host leading industry experts and wine producers. The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles international wine tasting competition will take place in Armenia from May 19 to 23.

Founded in 1994, the competition annually brings together leading specialists to evaluate various types of wines from countries around the world. It was originally held in Brussels, but since 2006 a decision was made to rotate the event among different countries, giving local producers an opportunity to discover and showcase their potential. The competition has previously been held in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Mexico and other countries. Armenia is now the next host country. This will be the first time the competition is organised in Armenia and, more broadly, in the South Caucasus region.

Zaruhi Muradyan, Executive Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, said a large number of guests are expected and an extensive programme has been prepared.

“Around 400 wine experts from 65 countries will participate in the competition, including 120 wine buyers. We are also expecting 200 journalists, bloggers and sommeliers. This is a good opportunity for us to present Armenia as a winemaking country, as well as to showcase our rich history. The event will last five days, and we have tried to design a programme that will allow our guests, beyond the competition itself, to visit Armenia’s wine-producing regions, historical and cultural sites, and take part in various events,” Muradyan said.

The competition programme will include tastings of white, red and sparkling wines. In total, 8,000 wines will be presented for evaluation by experts, who will identify the best entries through blind tastings. Armenia usually participates in the competition with more than 50 varieties; this year, that number has increased to 120.

Quentin Havaux, Director of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles wine tasting competition, noted that the event is not only a good opportunity to present a country’s winemaking story, showcase its potential and gain recognition, but also an effective platform for expanding professional partnerships.

“There will be numerous opportunities within the framework of the competition to establish contacts and build partnerships. First of all, guests will visit wineries. The guest list includes not only experts, but also wine buyers themselves. In addition, a special meeting will be organised with the participation of wine buyers and producers. As you know, we have also invited many bloggers and journalists who will speak about Armenian wines, which in turn will help raise the visibility of local products,” Havaux said.

He noted that Armenian wines are unique and remarkable for their quality. Havaux stressed that some wines produced in Armenia are made from distinctive grape varieties that cannot be replicated elsewhere.